Huruma demolitions halted as owners secure court injunctions

The ongoing demolition exercise of condemned houses in Nairobi might now take longer than expected after most owners of the buildings earmarked for demolition in Huruma Estate obtained court orders stopping the government from bringing them down.

According to the national disaster management unit communication officer Pius Masai, following the court orders, lead authorities have since been forced to stop the demolition exercise in Huruma estate.

The High Court stopped the demolition of 18 unsafe rental houses until the case is heard and determined.

About 226 buildings in Nairobi County that do not meet construction standards have been earmarked for demolition.

Early this month, the building inspectorate secretary in the Public Works Ministry, Moses Nyakiohoro, told Citizen Digital that so far 2,601 buildings have been inspected in a bid to clear the county of dangerous structures.